The world needs to listen to people just like Aaron... they will help lead the way to a better society
Teenager who suffered with anxiety has been namedyoungvolunteer of theyear by VASLAN
An inspirational 17-year-old volunteer has become the voice of Lanarkshire’s young people as he takes his seat on the board of a charity that helped him to overcome his childhood struggles with mental health.
Now, the tireless efforts of university student Aaron Sweeney have been formally recognised by VASLAN (Voluntary Action South Lanarkshire), who last week named him Young Volunteer of the Year.
In an effort to manage feelings of anxiety experienced since he was a young child, Aaron was aged 16 when he sought the help of the Trust Jack Foundation – a charity set up by Helen Mitchell, mum of Jack Hastie, who battled adolescent depression and tragically took his own life in 2015 at the age of 18.
“I have had anxiety since I was very young. School made it worse,” explained Aaron, a first year accountancy student at the University of the West of Scotland.
“When I went to high school, it was really bad. I had multiple panic attacks a day. I was struggling to get up and out, and I wasn’t really talking to people.”
Aaron began to have a new outlook on life when he started attending Monday art therapy classes at the Trust Jack Foundation.
“It helps me to relax and feel less anxious around new people,” explained Aaron, whose twin brother, Ross, also signed up for the classes to help him deal with social anxiety issues.
“You’re with a group of people you can speak to if you are feeling down or anxious.
It’s two hours of being focused on the art work, and you don’t have to worry or think about anything else.”
To repay the charity for boosting his confidence through the weekly art therapy classes he still attends, former Larkhall Academy pupils Aaron and Ross were 17 when they began volunteering by fundraising and helping out with the summer programme for young people.
In September, Aaron was approached by Helen Mitchell, who invited him on to the
Trust Jack Foundation board, whose members include Lisa Cameron, MP for East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow.
Listened to and respected, he now airs at executive level the big issues that most impact young people’s lives: body image and how it is portrayed on social media; equality; transitioning to high school or further education; climate change and the environment, and sustainability.
Aaron – who is committed to breaking the stigma around young people’s mental ill health – says it was an honour to win the VASLAN award in a category whose finalists included his brother, Ross, and volunteer Sammi Mitchell, daughter of Helen.
Describing him as “the epitome of fairness, diversity and equality” and “a total inspiration and a true ambassador for mental health and inclusion,” Trust Jack Foundation project manager Siobhan Hossack said: “The whole world needs to listen to people like Aaron, as they will help us lead the way to a better society.”
Listening is what the charity does best. On a daily basis, the organisation is seeing children and young people who are selfharming, and some as young as eight who have considered taking their own lives.
“We do not diagnose. We are just there to support these people and their families,” explained Siobhan.
“When families come to us, most of them are at the end of their tether.”
She cites the case of a 12-yearold girl, whose parents were left feeling utterly helpless as they watched their daughter struggle with an undiagnosed mental illness.
The girl, who was transitioning to high school, finally received an appointment with children and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) after a tortuous 18-month wait. Only then did experts diagnose her symptoms as the start of psychosis.
“We are seeing a real trend of young people aged 11 to 13 who are really struggling with anxiety and their mental health,” continued Siobhan.
“This year and because of Covid, it seems to point to the lack of transition they have had from primary to secondary school. It has significantly impacted on young people.
“It has always been eyeopening doing this job, especially when you are dealing with young people who are having the types of thoughts they have. We are not experts, but we can offer some kind of comfort and support.”
In his capacity as a board member, Aaron Sweeney was pivotal in bringing to life Helen’s idea for the charity’s Nova groups – named after the brightest of stars.
The Wednesday evening Nova Natter, run by youth worker Joanne Mcmann, is for youngsters who do not feel ready to join a mainstream youth group.
Involving young people who are on the autism spectrum and those who are self-harming or struggling with anxiety, the group tackles diverse issues, including those that affect the LGBTQ+ community.
Nova Connect is a 10-week
course that teaches young people who have low selfesteem to see themselves differently. And, when someone with new-found self-belief graduates from Nova Connect, which is led by youth project co-ordinator Barry Brownlie, they can progress to become a Novateer and have the opportunity to implement project pilots.
Barry also co-ordinates the Hub Club for primary school children and the Nova Club for secondary school pupils.
Next year, the organisations will be kickstarting Djing and music workshop, The Dalton Project, which aims to equip teenagers with new skills and help them make new friends.
“We are providing them with a safe space to come and be themselves, without judgement, with people who are also struggling,” said Siobhan.
“We also provide one-to-one talking therapy if it is not the right step to put them into a group. And it’s all free of charge.”
The Trust Jack Foundation, which recently invited Taggart and Two Doors Down actor
Alex Norton to be its patron, currently counts 108 young people in its system, with referrals coming from Larkhall, Stonehouse, Strathaven, Hamilton, East Kilbride, Motherwell, Wishaw, Airdrie and Coatbridge, as well as Glasgow.
It a sad indictment that the
Stonehouse-based charity that was spawned from humble beginnings seven years ago is now among the leading services for the growing number of Lanarkshire children and young people who are finding their mental health struggles overwhelming.
It has helped more than 500 young people in 2021 so far, with a waiting list in place.
This comes as figures published by the National Records of Scotland revealed that there were 805 deaths by probable suicide registered in 2020, down from 833 in the previous 12 months.
The charity has received heartfelt testimonies from the parents of service users who have attended social sessions at the hub and the talking therapy sessions run by Helen and Kirsty Fraser, who also uses play therapy to encourage children to open up.
One mum wrote to the team: “You helped me and my son when no one else was interested,” while another told them: “When you saved my daughter from taking her own life, you also saved mine.”
Determined that no family should have to endure the heartache of losing a child to suicide, Helen has grown the foundation that keeps her son’s name alive, as well as being mum to Jack’s 18-year-old sister, Sammi, who has autism, and his 19-year-old brother, Josh, who is also on the spectrum and has cerebral palsy.
“Helen has started this organisation and, even though she has her own challenges, she is completely selfless,” said Siobhan, whose husband Michael, along with Helen’s husband, Darren, runs Jack’s Lads 18+ men’s support group every Sunday.
“It is not always easy, but still she is bringing all these ideas to life.
“She is an incredible woman and an absolute inspiration.”
Visit Trust Jack Foundation on Facebook or www. trustjackfoundation.co.uk. For mental health support services contact youth and family worker Kirsty.tjf@gmail.com.
Youth club enquiries and bookings should be emailed to youth project co-ordinator barry.tjf@gmail.com.
■ Anyone who wishes to support the work of the
Trust Jack Foundation can do so via Paypal: Contact@ trustjackfoundation.co.uk Alternatively, message the organisation via its Facebook page to arrange a bank transfer. Every penny donated directly helps fund its services.
Most families come to us at the end of their tether